SafePlace, a member of the Start Strong Learning Community, is the lead organization for Start Strong Austin. As part of this four-year initiative, Start Strong Austin will be implementing the Start Strong model by:

• Introducing Safe Dates, a healthy relationships curriculum, as well as Expect Respect Youth Leadership Training in middle schools and Date SMART at Boys and Girls Clubs
• Engaging youth and adults in prevention through the Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble and other community arts projects
• Building capacity in school, after-school, and health care settings to promote healthy relationships and prevent dating abuse through training and policy development
• Creating a youth-led media campaign, including digital stories, PSAs and a PBS documentary that will feature youth taking action for social change

BY THE NUMBER

• Start Strong Austin targets 3,200 students in 4 middle schools
• Of these students, 70% are Hispanic, 26% are African-American and 2.5% are Caucasian
• More than 92% of targeted youth are economically disadvantaged and over 75% are identified as at-risk due to lack of school success, social support needs and behavioral problems

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Austin Independent School District

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Capital Area

Seton Family of Hospitals / Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas

The Austin Project

Theatre Action Project

"The Cipher -- Austin's Hip Hop Project"

MEET THE TEAM

Barbara Ball: Project Director Start Strong Austin, SafePlace
Barri Rosenbluth: Director, Expect Respect Program, SafePlace
Bonnie Brookby: Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble Managing Director, SafePlace
Eliana De La Garza, Start Strong Youth Leader, Age 14
Clyde Burgess, Start Strong Youth Leader, Age 18

CONNECT

Address: P.O Box 19454, Austin, TX 78760
Email: bball@SafePlace.org
expectrespect@SafePlace.org
Website: www.SafePlace.org
P: 512- 356 1623

COMMUNITY UPDATES

• Start Strong Austin Brings Prevention to the White House!
• Video Documenting Start Strong Austin's Take it to the Streets Event

IN THE NEWS

• Preventing Teen Dating Violence
• Local play speaks against teen dating violence
• Start Strong Austin on Fox Good Day!
• Start Strong Austin on Fox Good Day Show!
• Start Strong Austin

PHOTOS:

Start Strong Austin	Start Strong Austin	Start Strong Austin Teen - Eliana De La Garza	Start Strong Austin Teen - C.J. Burgess
Start Strong Austin - Program Launch